the ki ney citizen venous air embolism , venous needle dislodgement , vascular access hemorrhage , or major allergic reactions to the dialyzer or treatment medications . Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome ( DDS ) DDS is a rare event occurring when patients with severely high blood urea levels undergo their first dialysis session . DDS symptoms may include headache , restlessness , vomiting , confusion , seizures , and coma . It may be prevented by making the first dialysis session shorter or slower . Venous air embolism ( VAE ) VAE results from air being accidently introduced into the patient ’ s bloodstream during the dialysis session . If the air goes to the heart or lungs , it may cause chest pain , shortness of breath , or passing out . If air goes to the brain , it may cause blurred vision , confusion , seizures , or stroke . Fortunately , symptomatic air embolism is exceedingly rare during dialysis , thanks to numerous safeguards in the modern dialysis machine . Venous needle dislodgement ( VND ) VND is a rare but life-threatening complication of dialysis , in which the needle accidently slips out of the fistula or graft , causing severe blood loss . The symptoms of severe blood loss include dizziness , confusion , low blood pressure , or passing out . It is important to tape the dialysis needle securely , and keep the dialysis needle clearly visible during the dialysis session .
Allergic or Allergic-like reactions Patients may rarely develop an allergic reaction to the dialysis kidney or to a medication given during dialysis , such as heparin , iron , or antibiotics . Mild cases may cause itching . Severe cases ( very rare ) may cause swelling of the lips , shortness of breath , wheezing , or low blood pressure . If a patient develops an allergic reaction during dialysis , it is important to determine what they are allergic to , so that the exposure can be avoided in future dialysis sessions . Less dangerous complications More frequently , patients may develop low blood pressure during dialysis , which could cause dizziness , confusion , or passing out . Low blood pressure during dialysis is usually due to removing too much fluid or removing fluid too quickly . It is treated by giving IV fluids quickly . The dialysis prescription may need to be changed ( less fluid removal or slower removal ) to prevent low blood pressure during dialysis . Sometimes , it is necessary to make changes in the blood pressure medications . Summary Thanks to staff vigilance and safety features , serious complications during dialysis are extremely rare . Dialysis staff receive frequent and extensive training in how to prevent these complications , recognize them , and treat them in a timely fashion .
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